Ingested Articles

Schwarber debuts, leads Nats over Cardinals 5-2

Kyle Schwarber doubled in a run in his delayed Nationals debut, Andrew Stevenson had a pinch-hit homer and Washington beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2. Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were in the starting lineup after being sidelined for Washington’s first six games by a coronavirus outbreak that prompted the postponement of the team’s season-opening series and left the club short-handed. The Nats ended a five-game skid, while the Cardinals have lost three straight. Stevenson hit his first homer of the season into St. Louis’ bullpen in right field to lead off the seventh, putting Washington ahead 4-2. The solo shot was just his fourth homer in 221 career at-bats.  

What's next as Congress ramps up investigations of Jan. 6

More than three months after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Congress is still trying to figure out how to move forward and prevent future attacks. A top priority for lawmakers is deciding what to do with the tall black fence that has surrounded the Capitol since Jan. 6. Another focus is the Capitol Police, who were badly outnumbered that day. The House Administration Committee, which oversees the Capitol Police, is holding a hearing Thursday to examine an internal agency report looking at the mistakes that were made. A separate panel is investigating the insurrection and questioning law enforcement leaders about how to move forward.

India reels amid virus surge, affecting world vaccine supply

India is experiencing its worst pandemic surge, with average daily infections exceeding 130,000 over the past week. The spike is particularly alarming because India is a major vaccine producer and a critical supplier to the U.N.-backed initiative that aims to help distribute shots fairly. Already the rise in cases has forced India to focus on satisfying its domestic demand — and delay deliveries. When infections began plummeting in India in September, many concluded the worst had passed. Masks and social distancing were abandoned, while the government gave mixed signals about the level of risk. When cases began rising again in February, authorities were left scrambling. 

Asian shares gain despite virus worries; China exports rise

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Tuesday with hopes growing for a global economic rebound despite surging coronavirus cases in many places. China reported its exports rose nearly 31% in March, in line with expectations but weaker…

Divisional arms races heat up at NHL trade deadline

All divisional play through the first two rounds of the playoffs made a major impact at the NHL trade deadline. As much as hockey executives like to say they worry only about making their own team better, several of the big moves executed Monday turned out to be important responses to division rivals. After Pittsburgh, Boston and the New York Islanders made additions, East-leading Washington made the biggest splash by getting big forward Anthony Mantha. Florida couldn't let defending champion Tampa Bay run away with the Central, so the Panthers traded for Sam Bennett. Out West, Colorado followed Vegas' move for more depth up front by doing the same. And Edmonton and Winnipeg filled holes after Toronto went all-in.

California's ArcLight and Pacific Theaters to close for good

Hollywood’s theatrical business may be slowly rebounding but for some exhibitors the last year has been catastrophic. Pacific Theaters, which operates some 300 screens in California, including the beloved ArcLight theaters and the historic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, said Monday that it will not be reopening. Pacific Theaters also operates the multiplexes at The Grove and The Americana shopping malls in the Los Angeles area. Los Angeles County recently expanded capacity for indoor moviegoing to 50% after more than a year of being closed. The ArcLight theaters were a favorite of many entertainment industry professionals and celebrities, with locations throughout Southern California.  

Muslims open Ramadan with social distanced prayers, vaccines

Muslims in Indonesia began marking Ramadan with communal prayers in a socially distanced contrast to the empty mosques of a year ago when Islam’s holiest month coincided with the start of the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 cases are spiking in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, but vaccines are being administered and the government is loosening restrictions. Mosques were disinfected and markers were placed to keep social distance. Restaurants can serve “iftar” feasts with health guidelines in place. The Health Ministry will maintain Indonesia's vaccine rollout through Ramadan, and clerics issued assurances the vaccine would not break the Ramadan fast.

Randle leads Knicks over Lakers and back above .500

Julius Randle had 34 points and 10 rebounds against his former team and the New York Knicks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-96 for their third straight victory. Coming off tense finishes against Memphis and Toronto, the Knicks led comfortably for much of the fourth quarter and moved back above .500 at 28-27. Elfrid Payton scored 20 points and Derrick Rose added 14 off the bench for the Knicks. Dennis Schroder scored 21 points and Markieff Morris had 17 for the Lakers, who fell to 5-7 since LeBron James sprained his ankle March 20, joining fellow All-Star Anthony Davis on the sideline.

Late president's book outlines vision for Japan's Nintendo

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo’s late president Satoru Iwata oversaw the video-game maker’s global growth as Super Mario and Pokemon became household names. “Ask Iwata” was published after his death from cancer in 2015 at age 55. This month, VIZ Media…

Sailor who shot, killed himself at Hawaii resort identified

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office has identified the U.S. Navy sailor who shot and killed himself on Monday in a luxury resort after a police standoff. The medical examiner's office says Russell Cruz of Kailua, Hawaii died of a gunshot wound to the head. The Navy was still notifying relatives Monday and hadn't yet released his name or other details. A statement Sunday confirmed he was a sailor assigned to the Pacific Submarine Force. Police said he fired shots from his room Saturday. He was found dead early Sunday. No one else was injured. 

New Mexico governor signs bill to legalize recreational pot

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed legislation that will legalize recreational marijuana. The Democratic governor said Monday that legalization should bring more than 10,000 new jobs and could free about 100 from prison. Her decision makes New Mexico the seventh state since last November to legalize adult possession and sales of cannabis for recreational use. Recreational marijuana use will be legal within months and sales would kick off next year in the state. Lujan Grisham also has supported marijuana reform as a way boost state revenue. The bill gives the governor strong oversight through her appointed superintendent of the Regulation and Licensing Department. 

Japan to start releasing Fukushima water to sea in 2 years

Japan’s government has decided to start releasing radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea in two years after it is treated. The decision was long speculated but delayed due to safety concerns and protests. Cabinet ministers meeting on Tuesday endorsed the release as the best option. The water has been accumulating at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant since its 2011 meltdown after a massive earthquake and tsunami. The plant's operator says storage capacity there will be full in the fall of 2022. 

US nominates NY lawyer to monitor United Auto Workers union

The U.S. attorney’s office in Detroit is recommending that a federal judge name New York lawyer Neil Barofsky to monitor the United Auto Workers union’s behavior after a corruption scandal. Appointing an independent monitor is part of a settlement the union agreed to with federal prosecutors in December. The monitor will stay in place for six years unless both sides agree to a shorter term. Barofsky leads the law firm Jenner & Block’s monitorship practice. He monitored two units of Credit Suisse following multibillion-dollar settlements. He also was an assistant U.S. Attorney in Manhattan and served as Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. 

Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala deploy troops to lower migration

The Biden administration has struck an agreement with Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala to temporarily surge troops to their borders in an effort to reduce the tide of migration to the U.S. border. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Mexico will maintain a deployment of about 10,000 troops, while Guatemala has surged 1,500 police and military personnel to its southern border and Honduras has deployed 7,000 police and military to its border “to disperse a large contingent of migrants” there. A White House official said Guatemala and Honduras were deploying troops temporarily, in response to a large caravan of migrants that was being organized at the end of March.

Marijuana growing equipment may have caused LA explosion

Officials believe equipment from a marijuana grow in a Los Angeles home’s garage may have caused an explosion that shattered the structures, trapping one man in the debris and sending another to the hospital with critical burn injuries. More than a dozen nearby homes were evacuated after the explosion Sunday night in the San Fernando Valley and several were damaged. Firefighters discovered a 59-year-old man with critical burn injuries outside the home and rescued another man buried in rubble. Two other adults and three children in the home were not injured. Authorities on Monday say an inspection of the home and garage wreckage found evidence of a marijuana grow. 

Bruins bolster playoff push, acquire Taylor Hall from Sabres

The banged-up Boston Bruins are getting a boost for their late-season playoff push by acquiring forward Taylor Hall in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins are also adding checking line forward Curtis Lazar despite missing the past six games with an upper-body injury. Buffalo acquired fourth-year forward Anders Bjork and a second-round pick in a deal completed in advance of the NHL’s trade deadline. The Sabres agreed to retain half of the remainder of Hall’s one-year, $8 million salary as part of the deal. The NHL’s 2018 MVP was deemed expendable by last-place Buffalo while it retools for beyond this season.

Twins, Wolves, Wild postpone games following police shooting

The Minnesota Twins, Wild and Timberwolves have postponed games scheduled for Monday. The decisions were made following the fatal police shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, in a nearby suburb. The Red Sox and Twins were supposed to start a four-game series. There was no immediate word about rescheduling. The Wild will play the St. Louis Blues on May 12 instead. The Timberwolves' game against the Brooklyn Nets also was postponed. Daunte Wright was killed Sunday when a Brooklyn Center police officer fired a handgun instead of a stun gun after a traffic stop.

Biden names 2 ex-NSA officials for senior cyber positions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has selected two former senior National Security Agency officials for key cyber jobs in his administration, the White House said Monday in moving to fill out a team whose role has grown more urgent…

No cap crunch for Capitals, who land Mantha at deadline

The Washington Capitals have made a blockbuster deal to acquire Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL's trade deadline. Washington gave up two players and a first- and second-round draft pick. The Capitals kept pace with moves made by their East Division rivals. The Boston Bruins acquired 2018 NHL MVP Taylor Hall in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres. Otherwise, a flat salary cap restricted the number of deals completed before the deadline. Only 17 trades were completed and involved just 26 players. That’s down from the NHL trade deadline day record of 32 deals involving 55 players a year ago.

Struggling Nationals get back Schwarber, Bell, Harrison

Left fielder Kyle Schwarber, first baseman Josh Bell and infielder Josh Harrison have been reinstated from the injured list by the Washington Nationals. The moves make the team’s roster nearly whole again after a coronavirus outbreak sidelined nine players and postponed four games. That trio had been expected to be in Washington’s opening day lineup. But they were part of the group kept away from the rest of the club because of COVID-19 protocols. Major League Baseball wound up rescheduling the Nationals’ first four games of 2021. Four players tested positive for the illness, while five others were put under quarantine after contact tracing. 

Coroner identifies 3 young siblings killed in Los Angeles

Authorities have identified the three young siblings who were killed in a gruesome slaying in Los Angeles over the weekend. Their mother is the suspect in the killings and was in custody Monday. The autopsies of a 3-year-old girl, her 2-year-old brother, and a 6-month-old sister were pending on Monday. The children’s grandmother returned home from work Saturday morning and found their bodies in their apartment in the Reseda neighborhood. The children’s mother is Liliana Carrillo and she was later arrested. It was not immediately clear if she had an attorney who could speak for her. Police have not disclosed a motive or how the children were killed.

Microsoft buying speech recognition firm Nuance in $16B deal

Microsoft, on an accelerated growth push, is buying speech recognition company Nuance in a cash deal worth $16 billion. Including debt, the companies value the transaction at $19.7 billion. Microsoft’s acquisition comes after the companies formed a partnership in 2019. Nuance's products are used by the majority of U.S. physicians, radiologists and hospitals. It has been a pioneer in voice-based artificial intelligence technology and was instrumental in helping to power Apple’s digital assistant Siri. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called artificial intelligence technology's most important priority and health care its most urgent application. The transaction is expected to close this year. 

Ex-Chiefs assistant Britt Reid charged with DWI after crash

Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid has been charged with driving while intoxicated after a crash that critically injured a young girl. Jackson County prosecutors announced the charges Monday against Reid, the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Prosecutors allege Britt Reid was driving about 84 mph and had a blood alcohol level of 0.113 about a half-hour after the crash near Arrowhead Stadium on Feb. 4. Police say his truck slammed into two cars stopped along an entrance ramp to Interstate 435 near the Chiefs' training facility. Five-year-old Ariel Young, who was in one of the cars, suffered a traumatic brain injury. Reid surrendered to Kansas City police on Monday and was released after posting $100,000 bond.